Bradman never missed a Tendulkar innings in last five years

Sir Donald Bradman was first impressed by Sachin Tendulkar while
watching a one-day game against Australia in the 1996 World Cup and
never missed a chance to see an innings from the Indian maestro after
that, the book 'Bradman's Best' reveals.

"Australia won (that match) but not before a stunning 90 from
Tendulkar that captured the Don's attention," the book, which
chronicles each of the 12 members of the 'Dream Team' selected by
Bradman, says in the chapter 'The Star of India'.

The book, authored by Roland Perry which has seen just half a day in
the shops, has already become a best-seller with a strong response
reported from buyers.

"He was most taken in by Tendulkar's technique, compactness and his
shot production and had asked his wife to have a look at the Indian as
he felt that Tendulkar played like he had. Jessie agreed that they
appeared similar.

"Bradman never missed a chance to see Tendulkar from then until the
end of the 1999 three-match Test series in Australia," the book says.

"Bradman ranked Brian Lara and Tendulkar as the best batsmen in the
world and found it difficult to judge who was better. He thought that
Tendulkar had a very sound defence while Lara was marginally more
aggressive and took more risks.

"By 2000, he held the view that they were the best in world cricket,
but that Tendulkar just pipped Lara as the world's number one," it
says.

Perry adds that by mid-1998, after watching Tendulkar destroy
Australia in Tests and one-day games in India, Bradman ranked him with
Barry Richards, Arthur Morris and Gary Sobers.

"Not long after that series against Australia, Tendulkar received the
invitation of a lifetime to join Shane Warne in meeting Bradman at his
Kensington Park home in Adelaide on his 90th birthday (August 27,
1998). Tendulkar was honoured to be told by Bradman that he was
today's best batsman. They discussed Gary Sobers, whom Bradman had
long regarded as the best cricketer of all time," the book reads.

On their meeting, Perry writes, "Tendulkar asked Bradman how he
prepared himself before a big match. Bradman replied that when he was
in Adelaide he would go to his job as a sharebroker for several hours
before going to the ground.

"Sometimes he would even toss the coin still wearing his suit. After
the game he would return to the office for several more hours. When he
was playing games away from Adelaide, he would go for a long walk
before and after the match.

"After the meeting, Bradman told Perry how impressed he was with
Tendulkar and how he expected him to go on to even greater
achievements. With a little luck, he will have another decade at the
top, the Don told Perry.

"Sir Don found Sunil Gavaskar a fine technician but thought his chief
fault was lack of aggression. Bradman noted, it is not sufficient to
keep the ball out of the stumps and not give a catch. There is need to
attack, take the initiative from the bowlers and set up conditions for
the batsmen to follow.

"After the Don stopped South Africa from touring Australia in 1971-72,
he had set up alternative teams. The world squad included Sunil
Gavaskar, Gary Sobers, FM Engineer, Rohan Kanhai, Zaheer Abbas, Clive
Lloyd and Tony Greig," it says.

The book also contains a letter by Gavaskar to Tendulkar when the
latter failed to win the Mumbai Cricket Associations Best Junior
Cricketer Award.

"The 'Little Master' commended Tendulkar on his performance and asked
him not to be disappointed. Gavaskar wrote, If you look at the best
award winners, you will find one name missing and that person has not
done too badly in Test cricket!!"